35: Time MOMagement & Motherhood Rhythms: Reclaiming Time, Presence & Self with Marisa Lonic
TimeMOMagement: Reclaiming Time, Purpose, and Sanity in Motherhood
In this episode of The Wand(HER)wild Podcast, Marisa Lonic—mom of four, time strategist, business coach, and the powerhouse behind Mama Work It shares with Monica what it means to actually manage your time as a modern mother—not with rigid schedules or productivity hacks, but with intuition, self-respect, and soul-led strategy. Or as Marisa calls it: TimeMOMagement.
From Corporate Hustle to Intentional Rhythms
Marisa’s motherhood journey began with a curveball—twin boys, born premature, while she was still climbing the corporate ladder. Ambitious, high-achieving, and eager to succeed, she found herself caught between diaper changes and deadlines. Like many mothers, she felt stretched too thin and resentful that her own needs constantly fell to the bottom of the list.
When she was offered a promotion, the overwhelm was so intense that she initially declined it—only to feel deep regret days later. That moment became a turning point. She asked for the opportunity back, got it, and moved her family cross-country. It was then that her relationship with time began to shift—not because life slowed down, but because she changed how she approached it.
What Is TimeMOMagement?
TimeMOMagement is more than just clever wordplay. It’s a mindset, a framework, and a permission slip to manage your priorities rather than be managed by them. Born during one of Marisa’s infamous “shower download” moments, TimeMOMagement is about weaving intention into your daily life—not just for your to-do list, but for your soul.
At its core, TimeMOMagement is about managing yourself back into your life. It’s the difference between being steamrolled by the schedule and confidently deciding what matters. As Marisa puts it: “Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”
It’s about recognizing that motherhood is seasonal. What worked six months ago may not work today. Your pace will change. Your needs will change. And your worth? It is never tied to how much you check off.
Productivity with Permission
When we say “I don’t have time,” what we often mean is “I haven’t given myself permission.” Permission to rest. Permission to say no. Permission to slow down.
Marisa offered a powerful reframe during our conversation: Replace “I don’t have time” with “It’s not a priority.” It’s such a simple switch, but it’s revealing.
Let’s say you’ve been telling yourself you don’t have time to exercise. Try saying instead, “Exercise is not a priority to me right now.”
You’ll likely feel one of two things:
Relief: because it truly isn’t a priority in this season.
Discomfort: because deep down, it is a priority, and you’ve been neglecting it.
Either way, this shift invites clarity. And from clarity comes freedom.
Seasons Change. So Should Your Schedule.
One of the biggest takeaways from our conversation was the idea that our pace needs to adapt as we shift through seasons—spring to summer, newborn to toddler, full-time job to entrepreneurial dreams.
When you're deep in flu season with multiple sick kids (like I was recently!), your pace will naturally slow. When summer break rolls around and your kids are home full time, your routines will need tweaking.
Instead of fighting these changes, TimeMOMagement asks us to honor them. To be nimble. To make peace with the pivots. And to build systems that are supportive, not suffocating.
Real Tools for Real Moms
Here are a few of Marisa’s tried-and-true tips for managing your time with more grace and intention:
1. Start from Within
Get honest about your feelings. Where do you feel pressure? What are your true priorities? Self-awareness is the first step toward alignment.
2. Shift the Language
“I don’t have time” becomes “It’s not a priority.” Let this become your new mirror—reflecting whether your choices are actually aligned with your values.
3. Say No Without Guilt
You’re not required to be everything to everyone. Saying no is often saying yes to your peace, presence, and energy.
4. Honor the Slow
Your pace will look different as a mom. That doesn’t make you less ambitious—it makes you human. Slow is still productive.
5. Keep It Seasonal
Be willing to adapt. What works in winter might not in summer. Let your routines ebb and flow.
TimeMOMagement in Practice
Here’s a peek into what this looks like day-to-day:
You set realistic to-dos rather than overwhelming yourself with a giant list.
You give yourself margin—buffer time between tasks, downtime without guilt, space to breathe.
You stop “should-ing” yourself for not operating at pre-mom speeds.
You check in with your intuition before saying yes to one more commitment.
And perhaps most importantly: You reclaim ownership of your time.
Why It Matters
When moms thrive, families thrive. When you feel aligned, supported, and steady, it ripples outward into your parenting, your business, your community.
This isn’t about having a perfect color-coded calendar or mastering inbox zero. It’s about creating a rhythm that honors your energy, your season, and your soul.
It’s about replacing burnout with boundaries.
And it’s about remembering that your worth is not measured in how much you do, but in how much you feel like yourself.
Where to Begin
You don’t have to overhaul your life overnight. Start small.
Try the “priority” language swap and notice what it reveals.
Audit your week—what’s truly aligned vs. what’s draining you?
Identify one area where you can slow down, say no, or simplify.
Reach out for support. Whether it’s a coach, a community, or a conversation with a friend, you’re not meant to do this alone.
Marisa offers free tools like a habit tracker and self-assessment at mamaworkit.com, plus a free clarity call if you’re ready to explore what TimeMOMagement could look like in your life.
Final Thoughts
We’re rewriting the motherhood narrative—and TimeMOMagement is one of the pens in our hand.
You’re not behind.
You’re not doing it wrong.
You’re not alone.
You are evolving. And you get to design a rhythm that works for you.
So here’s to the moms who are slowing down to speed up, creating space for their own joy, and defining success on their own terms.
TimeMOMagement isn’t just a system. It’s a lifestyle. And it starts with choosing you—one moment, one boundary, one breath at a time.
Learn more about Marisa Lonic.
Instagram: @letmamaworkit
Website: mamaworkit.com
Marisa Lonic is a certified intuitive life & business coach, keynote speaker, 3x author, top-rated podcast host and the founder of Mama Work It and Marisa Lonic Coaching & Consulting. After spending nearly 15 years in corporate leadership positions, Marisa shifted gears to become a full-time Time Momager & Biz Momager. Through her books, courses, and coaching programs, she helps busy moms juggling mom life, work life, wife life, fill in the blank life. Her time management and goal achievement strategies have helped the most overwhelmed mamas turn their dreams into reality, even when they thought they had no time to make any of it happen.
When she’s not supporting others with the daily juggle, you can find her cooking and baking delicious meals her kids may or may not eat, running (ok fine - walking/running) in her neighborhood, and hanging out with the five amazing guys she calls family (her husband and four kiddos).
Join the Movement
If this story resonates with you, we invite you to explore more. Visit our free resources, upcoming digital events, in person family retreats, and follow us on Substack or follow us on Instagram for conversations on self-healing and intentional living. Let’s walk this path together.
